Cyclones Slam Past Cowgirls, 11-8

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Cyclones (15-19, 1-3 Big 12) christened the Cyclone Sports Complex, with a 11-8 facility-debut win over Oklahoma State (24-15, 2-2 Big 12) on Friday afternoon. Cyclone senior Tori Torrescano drove in five runs, four on a grand slam in the second inning.

Torrescano’s drive over the center field wall marked her 13th homer of the season and the sixth with two outs in an inning. Torrescano’s final RBI of the game came in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out double.

Sophomore Maddie Reese was the other Cyclone to go deep against Oklahoma State ace Kat Espinosa (13-8), hitting a leadoff home run in the third. Including the home runs from Torrescano and Reese, Espinosa gave up seven hits, was charged with seven runs and three walks while striking out four during her four innings in the circle.

Reliever Taylor Smith (6-6) picked up the win, entering with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the fourth and allowing three runs on seven hits. Smith walked two and did not record a strikeout.

Ari Morrison drove in Oklahoma State’s first two runs in the top of the second with a double to left center and Tamara Brown was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning as she tried to touch home on the play.

Iowa State got the two runs back and more in the bottom of the frame with an RBI-single from Sarah Hawryluk before Torrescano’s blast to center for the 5-2 lead before Reese’s long ball extended the lead to four runs.

The Cowgirls rallied in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs, including two on a two-run RBI double with no outs from Tarah Ettinger, to tie the game, but Torrescano was once again equal to the task, lacing an RBI-double with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to give Iowa State the lead once again.

Trailing, 11-6, in the top of the seventh after RBI singles from Erica Miller and Sara Davison plated three of four Iowa State runs in the bottom of the sixth, Oklahoma State attempted a final comeback in the top of the seven, driving in two runs before Smith shut the Cowgirls down for the Cyclone victory.

On Saturday, the teams will take the field for the second game of the weekend series at noon CDT at the Cyclone Sports Complex.